Who's aiding and abetting the enemy?

I wrote a diary a few weeks ago about a group of military family members and veterans who've been speaking out loudly against the Bush Administration. My husband is serving in Iraq and I feel I have an obligation to protest the Bush Administration's near-criminal mishandling of the war.

But when our protest activities were covered in the local media, my husband was told by a senior military officer back here at Ft. Lewis that my protest actions are "aiding and abetting the enemies of the United States and the U.S. military". This same commander told me personally that I was "anti-military".

there's more below

I've received feedback from my husband and other officers in his unit that they are very happy that we are looking out for their best interests by speaking out against the Bush Administration.

The soldiers want us to hold the civilian leadership accountable for their failed policies in Iraq, to keep asking tough questions and to demand that Bush tells the truth to the American people about the grave situation in Iraq.

So all of us will continue to speak out to local media, citizens, anyone who will listen as we express our deep concerns about the way our country rushed to war in Iraq and the negligent way the war is being conducted.

We are touring small towns in Oregon tomorrow with Jim Rassman (the vet whose life was saved in Vietnam by John Kerry) to voice our concerns about the war.

I know that by speaking out, we are in good company. Wesley Clark, Anthony Zinni, General Shinseki,Chuck Hagel and Richard Lugar have all joined the chorus of dissent.

Are there others? Could you all help me put together a comprehensive list of all the prominent politicians and military figures who have spoken out?

I'd like to use this list as fortification against any future criticism by my husband's commander or anyone else who says that we are helping the enemy by exercising our free speech rights.

Thanks for your help.

•  pacific city

  I had no idea your husband was in Iraq. My thoughts and best wishes are with both of you. And thank you for doing what has to be very hard, particularly your tour tomorrow.

  I'm recommending your diary, and hope that others will, too. I'd sure like to see the community work together a little bit tonight. I'll try to do some research on other key administration opponents, and will report back here if I find anything.

  by mcjoan on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 04:44:22 PM PDT

  •  thank you

    this is one of the most valuable aspects of dKos, in my opinion.

    It's like each of us has a political action team that is several thousand strong. The results can be breathtaking, i.e. see the kos post about the letters to the House Ethics committee investigating Delay, remember Zackpunk's famous "you own it" slogan that was used in a speech by Kerry.

    by pacific city on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 05:00:53 PM PDT

    •  Pay dirt

      Rep. John Duncan (R-TN, though he stumps for Bush)

      Rep. Doug Bereuter (R-NB, retiring)

      by mcjoan on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 06:26:42 PM PDT

      •  Oops, hit post too soon

        Rep. Doug Bereuter "believes the U.S. military assault on Iraq was unjustified and the situation there has deteriorated into 'a dangerous, costly mess.'"

        But here's the good stuff:

        Iraq Veterans Campaign for Peace

        Diplomats & Military Commanders for Change:

        1. The Honorable Avis T. Bohlen; Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, 1999; Ambassador to Bulgaria, 1996; District of Columbia

        2. Admiral William J. Crowe, USN, Ret.; Chairman, President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Committee, 1993; Ambassador to the Court of Saint James, 1993; Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1985; Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Command; Oklahoma

        3. The Honorable Jeffrey S. Davidow; Ambassador to Mexico, 1998; Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs, 1996; Ambassador to Venezuela, 1993; Ambassador to Zambia, 1988; Virginia

        4. The Honorable William A. DePree; Ambassador to Bangladesh, 1987; Director of State Department Management Operations, 1983; Ambassador to Mozambique, 1976; Michigan

        5. The Honorable Donald B. Easum; Ambassador to Nigeria, 1975; Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, 1974; Ambassador to Upper Volta, 1971; Virginia

        6. The Honorable Charles W. Freeman, Jr.; Assistant Secretary of Defense, International Security Affairs, 1993; Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 1989; Rhode Island

        7. The Honorable William C. Harrop; Ambassador to Israel, 1991; Ambassador to Zaire, 1987; Inspector General of the State Department and Foreign Service, 1983; Ambassador to Kenya and Seychelles, 1980; Ambassador to Guinea, 1975; New Jersey

        8. The Honorable Arthur A. Hartman; Ambassador to the Soviet Union, 1981; Ambassador to France, 1977; Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs, 1973; New Jersey

        9. General Joseph P. Hoar, USMC, Ret.; Commander in Chief, United States Central Command, 1991; Deputy Chief of Staff, Marine Corps, 1990; Commanding General, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, 1987; Massachusetts

        10. The Honorable H. Allen Holmes; Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations, 1993; Ambassador at Large for Burdensharing, 1989; Assistant Secretary of State for Politico- Military Affairs, 1986; Ambassador to Portugal, 1982; Kansas

        11. The Honorable Robert V. Keeley; Ambassador to Greece, 1985; Ambassador to Zimbabwe, 1980; Ambassador to Mauritius, 1976; Florida

        12. The Honorable Samuel W. Lewis; Director of State Department Policy and Planning, 1993; Ambassador to Israel, 1977; Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs, 1975; Texas

        13. The Honorable Princeton N. Lyman; Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs, 1997; Ambassador to South Africa, 1992; Director, Bureau of Refugee Programs, 1989; Ambassador to Nigeria, 1986; Maryland

        14. The Honorable Jack F. Matlock, Jr.; Ambassador to the Soviet Union, 1987; Director for European and Soviet Affairs, National Security Council, 1983; Ambassador to Czechoslovakia, 1981; Florida

        15. The Honorable Donald F. McHenry; Ambassador and U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, 1979; Illinois

        16. General Merrill A. (Tony) McPeak, USAF, Ret.; Chief of Staff, United States Air Force, 1990; Commander in Chief, Pacific Air Forces, 1988; Commander, 12th Air Force and U.S. Southern Command Air Forces, 1987; Oregon

        17. The Honorable George E. Moose; Representative, United Nations European Office, 1997; Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, 1993; Ambassador to Senegal, 1988; Director, State Department Bureau of Management Operations, 1987; Ambassador to Benin, 1983; Colorado

        18. The Honorable David D. Newsom; Secretary of State ad interim, 1981; Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, 1978; Ambassador to the Philippines, 1977; Ambassador to Indonesia, 1973; Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, 1969; Ambassador to Libya, 1965; California

        19. The Honorable Phyllis E. Oakley; Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research, 1997; Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration, 1994; Nebraska

        20. The Honorable Robert Oakley; Special Envoy for Somalia, 1992; Ambassador to Pakistan, 1988; Ambassador to Somalia, 1982; Ambassador to Zaire, 1979; Louisiana

        21. The Honorable James D. Phillips; Diplomat-in-Residence, the Carter Center of Emory University, 1994; Ambassador to the Republic of Congo, 1990; Ambassador to Burundi, 1986; Kansas

        22. The Honorable John E. Reinhardt; Director of the United States Information Agency, 1977; Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, 1975; Ambassador to Nigeria, 1971; Maryland

        23. General William Y. Smith, USAF, Ret.; Chief of Staff for Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, 1979; Assistant to the Chairman, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1975; Director of National Security Affairs, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, 1974; Arkansas

        24. The Honorable Ronald I. Spiers; Under Secretary General of the United Nations for Political Affairs, 1989; Under Secretary of State for Management, 1983; Ambassador to Pakistan, 1981; Director, State Department Bureau of Intelligence and Research, 1980; Ambassador to Turkey, 1977; Ambassador to The Bahamas, 1973; Director, State Department Bureau of Politico-Military Affairs, 1969; Vermont

        25. The Honorable Michael E. Sterner; Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, 1974; New York

        26. Admiral Stansfield Turner, USN, Ret.; Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, 1977; Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe (NATO), 1975; Commander, U.S. Second Fleet, 1974; Illinois

        27. The Honorable Alexander F. Watson; Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs, 1993; Ambassador to Brazil, 1992; Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, 1989; Ambassador to Peru, 1986; Maryland

        by mcjoan on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 06:30:43 PM PDT

        •  you are awesome!

          thank you for doing this.

          I'm heading to my mom's book club meeting, where we'll be discussing "The Rise of the Vulcans".

          I'm looking forward to directing the discussion toward the Iraq War and the many casualties that have come out of Bush's War Cabinet's policies.

          by pacific city on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 06:51:29 PM PDT

          •  ugh, that's been on my to read list forever

            how good is it?

            but back on topic, you're doing great work.  I have a little experience on this as one of my best friends from college is over in Germany right now with her boyfriend who was in the 1st armored brigade in Fallujah.  She absolutely HATES Bush, and I'm assuming he's not thrilled about him either.

            The one good thing:  She's from Ohio.  She's gonna get daily reminders to vote pretty soon

            by slapshot57 on Tue Sep 21, 2004 at 09:46:51 AM PDT

    •  my niece and nephew-in-law are at Ft Lewis

      My nephew is being deployed to Iraq next month.  When I was visiting them in July he told me everybody hates Bush, except maybe for some officers.  He's a southern boy from a Republican family and voting Kerry.  He's says everybody is.

      Keep up the good work and don't let the officers intimidate you.  The repugs sure will be shocked if the Fort Lewis area goes Kerry.  Based on my conservations with military families while I was there and what my nephew says, it just may happen.

      by rusrivman on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 09:56:11 PM PDT

•  Name their names

  Dissent is a part of American government. If there are military trying to squash freedom of speech, they need to be outed.

  by wunderwood on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 05:03:36 PM PDT

  •  absolutely

    If an officer (or anyone in uniform or otherwise clearly a member of the service) comes up to you with a threatening and/or intimidating comment, ask them politely for their name and rank (or read it off their uniform) and repeat it out loud, inserting it into your half of the conversation a few times to help memorize it. When you get home write it down and make a note of the date and the gist of the conversation.

    Unless they're exceptionally dense, they will probably understand the implication and back off.

    If you talk to reporters, make sure you mention anyone whom you feel crossed the line beyond simply expressing an opinion and started to intimidate you. As servicemen they are working for you, and debate and discussion among the people is a very important part of America.

    by drewthaler on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 07:21:54 PM PDT

    •  all good in theory

      but in reality, some of these officers can do real damage to a loved one in a war zone.

      how about a transfer to Sadr City?  Or Fallujah?
      Or how about we just remove you from command and bring you home, which would hang all your soldiers out to dry without a commander?

      Unfortunately these are things that have to be considered when confronting a bully who has some power.

      by pacific city on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 11:05:58 PM PDT

•  Just coming by to say thank you

  for all you and your husband are doing for this country.  I hope your outreach goes well.

  aimai

  by aimai on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 05:04:20 PM PDT

•  These senators spoke out today

  Senators Richard Lugar of Indiana, Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.

  You mentioned Hagel and Lugar but not John McCain and Lindsay Graham.

  http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/092104B.shtml

  by wunderwood on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 05:07:16 PM PDT

•  My friend...

  Where will you be touring?  I'm in Oregon so if you'll be close-by I'll show up and give you some support.  If you don't want to post your schedule here, please email me.

  by pacifica on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 05:09:10 PM PDT

  •  I appreciate it

    I'm going to check to see if we are doing any public events or if these are just roundtable meetings with local vets and military folks.

    I'll email you later to let you know.

    by pacific city on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 05:16:03 PM PDT

•  Jon Kyl is not our friend

  Of course there will always be dingbat Jon Kyl. Here's what he said in that same article:

  "War is tough," Kyl said, "and there are casualties and just before victory sometimes it gets most violent."

  I searched the net and it appears that Senator Jon Kyl is not speaking from experience. Surprise! He did not serve in the military.

  by wunderwood on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 05:12:29 PM PDT

•  Don't quit

  That officer is looking to save his ass. But the next time he calls you a traitor, remind him where he is and where your husband is and that he owes you an apology on the spot, if he's any kind of man.

  He sits in an office all day. Your husband has no such luxury, plus a lot of kids to bring home alive.

  Ask this moron why he didn't volunteer to be deployed to Iraq if he's so pro-war.

  Fuck him. He's not at risk, your husband is.  

  by stevegilliard on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 05:13:12 PM PDT

•  Please keep me informed too.

  I'm the President of Veterans for Peace Chapter 72 and even though we can't endorse as a chapter, individual members like to attend any events that they can.

  by BOHICA on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 05:43:19 PM PDT

  •  PS

    2 of our members were at Dewey Canyon III with JK.
    Sean S. sang and was honored to raise the flag on one occasion. Wonder if Kerry remembers him?

    by BOHICA on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 05:45:42 PM PDT

•  Sounds like your guy's C.O. is the one out of line

  Not sayin' it pays to make a federal case out of it.

  Just sayin'.

  by RonK Seattle on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 06:01:33 PM PDT

•  Thank you for keeping up the good fight

  I have posted this elsewhere. but this seems like a good thread for it.  In the past few days i have memorized and repeated these few facts on why if you support the troops you should support Kerry.  

  I usually start of by saying, "forgetting for a moment that Bush lied to us about why we are in Iraq and that it is totally FUBAR right now, you should vote for Kerry because his support for the troops goes beyond using them for a photo-op.  Did you know:

  • Bush put soldiers in harms way but failed to provide them with appropriate equipment and protective gear.

  • For those same soldiers getting shot at without correct gear, Bush tried to cut their family separation pay and imminent danger bonuses.

  • Democrats wanted to increase the $6,000 gratuity paid to families of troops who die o­n active duty, Bush called it wasteful and unnecessary.

  • Instead of fixing the dilapidated military housing, Bush cut 1.5 billion from the military construction budget.

  • Bush uses their service as a campaign prop, and then opposes a proposal to give National Guard and Reserve members access to the Pentagon's health insurance system."

  Try it out on your favorite Republican.

  by ETinKC on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 06:16:52 PM PDT

  •  How many soldiers does he plan to kill?

    That $6000 was probably worth quite a bit more when it was originally introduced.  Seems like it was $6000 and a flag back when I joined in the mid '80s.  I'm sure I've heard that the life insurance they let you buy takes the place of that money, but that's crap.

    by unterhausen on Tue Sep 21, 2004 at 04:58:01 AM PDT

•  Some links to military opponents of Iraq war

  Hope these help!

  Military Families Speak Out

  Diplomats and Military Commanders for Change

  Officers file brief against Bush's Guantanamo policy

  Opposition to entering the war on Iraq (Scowcroft, etc.)

  More opposition to entering the Iraq war (Schwarzkopf, Hoar, etc.)

  by AlanF on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 06:20:29 PM PDT

•  A few ideas

  A variety of groups mentioned in this post on Alternet.

  http://www.alternet.org/election04/19730/

  One name specifically I'd highlight is General Joseph Hoar - he's been particularly outspoken, like Zinni.

  It's also easy to overlook him, but Richard Clarke, who was not military but was, after all, President Bush's own Counter-terrorism chief has been a strong critic.

  by daunte on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 06:34:48 PM PDT

•  Thank you

  I am truly humbled by your courage.  I am immensely grateful for your insistence on speaking out.

  by jay l on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 06:53:23 PM PDT

•  Gen. McPeak

  Voted for Bush in 2000, has been doing appearances and commercials for Kerry.

  Who were the Generals and Admirals who were on stage with Kerry at the DNC.

  by Unstable Isotope on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 06:57:21 PM PDT

  •  Gen. McPeak

    Was on stage at the PDX 50,000 rally. He is an Oregonian.

    by BOHICA on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 07:09:49 PM PDT

•  Best wishes

  to you and your husband, and may he come home soon. Please continue to speak out, and from me to your husband's anti-empathic, anti-intelligent commander, "whattaya waiting for, tough guy -- grab a rifle, get your uber-patriotic ass to downtown Falloojeh and start walking patrol."

  After he's done that for a couple months, then he can talk about "aiding and abetting."

  by Serephin on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 10:29:20 PM PDT

•  Zbignew Brezhinski

  Carter's Nat'l Sec. Advisor had a great quote about dividing our allies and uniting our foes that wound up in a kerry speech. He's no dove.

  by Cache on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 10:50:41 PM PDT

•  Best wishes to you and your husband

  And thank you both for your ongoing service.

  These folks might also be of interest for your list:

  . . . ."Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity," has produced some of the most credible, and critical, analyses of the Bush Administration's handling of intelligence data in the run-up to the March, 2003 invasion of Iraq. Starting with a next-day analysis of Colin Powell's February 5, 2003 speech to the Security Council of the United Nations, the group's steering committee of a half-dozen intelligence veterans has published eleven detailed analytical memoranda directed to President Bush, Colin Powell, and Kofi Annan, among others, assessing what the Bush Administration knew about Iraq before, during, and after the war, and how that intelligence has been used--and misused.

  MotherJones.com spoke with Ray McGovern, a member of the VIPS steering committee and a 27-year veteran of the CIA who prepared and delivered daily presidential briefings during the Reagan years. McGovern participated in the drafting of all but one of the group's 11 memoranda, and has written over 20 op-ed pieces in the past two years for such venues as the Miami Herald and TomPaine.com.

  Here's a link to the Mother Jones interview from March 10, 2004, and here's the group's open memo to Bush from May 1, 2003.  

   

  by musing graze on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 10:53:20 PM PDT

•  Don't forget Schwarzkopf

  I think that we can logically assume that "Stormin' Norman", who gave a speech supporting Bush's presidential nomination at the 2000 Republican National Convention, won't be repeating his vote for Bush on November 2, basically because (as with most of the uniformed military) he's not terribly happy with the civilian leadership in the Pentagon -- even though he lamely says that this isn't the first time civilians have mucked up military affairs:

  MATTHEWS:  What do you think of the civilian leadership of the Defense Department that`s making these decisions, especially Feith, the undersecretary?  Tommy Franks wasn`t too complimentary to him in his recent book.  Is your sense that the civilians in the Defense Department now are smart about military tactics, or they`re hopelessly ideological?

  SCHWARZKOPF:  Well, I think they have a predetermined concept of exactly what it should be and the roles that they should be playing therein, and sometimes those roles, you know, overlap a little bit, and sometimes they`re playing soldier when they really shouldn`t be playing soldier at all.  That`s nothing new.  As I said, I`ve been in the Pentagon...

  . . .

  MATTHEWS:  We`re back with Norman Schwarzkopf, former general.  General, let me ask you a question.  General Shalikashvili, a friend of yours, I know, is in bad health right now.  He`s suffered a very serious stroke.  He said something in a letter to the editor of "The Wall Street Journal" right before he was struck, saying that he thought generals, once they`ve retired, should be allowed to have political opinions about their country and express them.  Do you go along with that?

  SCHWARZKOPF:  Sure.  I`m--you know, once I`m retired, yes, I`m a retired general, but I`m also a citizen of the United States of America, with all the rights that a citizen has.  And I don`t think there`s anything wrong at all with somebody expressing their opinion.  I`ve expressed mine often enough, and I`ve had people come back and express theirs, you know, in opposition to mine.  That`s the way a democracy works.

  MATTHEWS:  Who are you voting for?

  (LAUGHTER)

  SCHWARZKOPF:  I`ve--you know, I`ve...

  MATTHEWS:  Boy, would I love to know!

  SCHWARZKOPF:  I`ve always told you...

  MATTHEWS:  I`d love to know.

  SCHWARZKOPF:  I`ve always told you I`m an independent.

  MATTHEWS:  But you got to vote, you know?  Is it going to be for Bush, Kerry, or Nader.  I don`t think it`s Nader, so how about one of the other two?

  SCHWARZKOPF:  What`s wrong with Nader?  You don`t like Nader?

  MATTHEWS:  I`m just--I don`t think he`s your man.  I`m just--I`m trying to probe here, General.  I`m just probing.  No comment?

  SCHWARZKOPF:  Let me put it this way.  You know, I`ll know exactly who I`m voting for the day I pull the lever on that machine...

  Just in case it's at all ambiguous in simple text form, Schwarzkopf was clearly joking when he "defended" Nader. <g>  Anyway, you can read the whole transcript from his August 17 interview with Chris Matthews here:

  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5745696/

  by GreekGirl on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 11:21:45 PM PDT

•  great diary

  and comments.

  by James Benjamin on Tue Sep 21, 2004 at 12:19:15 AM PDT

•  Don't forget McPeak. of all the military guys,

  he should carry a lot of credibility for being a Republican and for having supported Bush the kast time out.

  by upstate NY on Tue Sep 21, 2004 at 06:15:07 AM PDT

•  Just want to say thank you

  to you and to your husband and others over there not just for their service but for understanding that those who are against the war and against the Bush administration are not against those serving in Iraq, but more than anything, passionately FOR them.  They are worth so much more than this.

  by Brooklyntype on Tue Sep 21, 2004 at 06:44:37 AM PDT

•  If all of you haven't yet read USMC Gen Butler

  you need to, stat.

  He talks about the corruption, how so much of the cost not just in terms of wounds and emotional trauma, but monetary is passed on to the soldiers. While meanwhile billions and billions is made by industrialists and people who lend money to the government, debts our children will be paying off.

  (He also talks about the propaganda and the lies, about how the desk soldiers don't want peace because that risks their jobs, about how the steel manufacturers push for war, and push politics - and I think I can tie the people he's talking about to Scaife, directly, but I'm still doing research on that.)

  by bellatrys on Tue Sep 21, 2004 at 07:36:39 AM PDT

•  Quotes from the Guardian Article

  by Blumenthal, I think, about a week ago. Hope it helps.
  Retired general William Odom, former head of the National Security Agency, told me: "Bush hasn't found the WMD. Al-Qaida, it's worse, he's lost on that front. That he's going to achieve a democracy there? That goal is lost, too. It's lost." He adds: "Right now, the course we're on, we're achieving Bin Laden's ends."

  Retired general Joseph Hoare, the former marine commandant and head of US Central Command: "The idea that this is going to go the way these guys planned is ludicrous. There are no good options. We're conducting a campaign as though it were being conducted in Iowa, no sense of the realities on the ground. It's so unrealistic for anyone who knows that part of the world. The priorities are just all wrong."

  "I see no exit," said Record. "We've been down that road before. It's called Vietnamisation. The idea that we're going to have an Iraqi force trained to defeat an enemy we can't defeat stretches the imagination. They will be tainted by their very association with the foreign occupier. In fact, we had more time and money in state building in Vietnam than in Iraq."
  General Odom said: "This is far graver than Vietnam. There wasn't as much at stake strategically, though in both cases we mindlessly went ahead with the war that was not constructive for US aims. But now we're in a region far more volatile, and we're in much worse shape with our allies."
  General Odom remarked that the tension between the Bush administration and the senior military officers over Iraqi was worse than any he has ever seen with any previous government, including Vietnam. "I've never seen it so bad between the office of the secretary of defence and the military. There's a significant majority believing this is a disaster. The two parties whose interests have been advanced have been the Iranians and al-Qaida. Bin Laden could argue with some cogency that our going into Iraq was the equivalent of the Germans in Stalingrad. They defeated themselves by pouring more in there. Tragic."
  Retired Gen. John Shalikashvili, five-star General and former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. "Considering the times we are living in and the dangers we are facing in this post-9/11 world, John Kerry is by far the best choice for the security of America,"

  Admiral William J. Crowe (United States Navy, Retired)
  Crowe served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest ranking officer in the U.S. military. Prior to serving as Chairman, he served as Commander in Chief in several areas, including the U.S. Pacific Command, Allied Forces in Southern Europe, U.S. Naval Forces in Europe and the Middle East Forces. He was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1985 until his retirement from the Navy in 1989.
  "The current administration has an overly simplistic view of how and when to use our military. By not bringing in our friends and allies, they have created a mess in Iraq and are crippling our forces around the world. John Kerry has a realistic understanding of the requirements of our military and the threats that we face."

  by Joan in Seattle on Tue Sep 21, 2004 at 07:56:46 AM PDT

•  Kudos

  You have great courage speaking out in your position.  Best wishes to you and to your husband's safe return home.

  by funkycamper on Tue Sep 21, 2004 at 08:41:36 AM PDT

•  Just Who Is Anti Military?

  I'd like to know
  "They said if you refuse to re-enlist with the 3rd Brigade, we'll send you down to the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, which is going to Iraq for a year..."

  by GP on Tue Sep 21, 2004 at 08:52:59 AM PDT

•  Gen Shalikashvili

  Is he still at Madigan? (recovering from stroke) He may not be able to speak to the issue now, but his prior statements may carry some weight in the community.

  BTW, are you in Norm Dicks district? Or Adam Smith?

  by RonK Seattle on Tue Sep 21, 2004 at 09:46:20 AM PDT

  •  Earl Blumenauer

    I live in Portland now, although I lived in Seattle for several years.

    My husband's Reserve unit is based out of Ft. Lewis.

    by pacific city on Tue Sep 21, 2004 at 05:58:38 PM PDT

•  Thank you for fighting the good fight.

  I think it's so important to speak out these days.  Everywhere there are people who think that questioning the country's leadership is unpatriotic.  To not speak the truth is unpatriotic.

  by DCDemocrat on Tue Sep 21, 2004 at 12:11:24 PM PDT

•  Just got this letter from MoveOn

  Some of the names and quotes are already listed above, but I think some are new. Sorry for the long excerpt.

  Here's what the generals and national security experts are saying, in a terrific recent piece in the UK's Guardian newspaper:

  Retired general William Odom, former head of the National Security Agency, said: "Bush hasn't found the WMD. Al-Qaida, it's worse, he's lost on that front. That he's going to achieve a democracy there? That goal is lost, too. It's lost." He adds: "Right now, the course we're on, we're achieving Bin Laden's ends."

  Retired general Joseph Hoare, the former marine commandant and head of US Central Command, [said]: "The idea that this is going to go the way these guys planned is ludicrous. There are no good options.... The priorities are just all wrong."

  Jeffrey Record, professor of strategy at the Air War College, said: "I see no ray of light on the horizon at all. The worst case has become true..."

  W. Andrew Terrill, professor at the Army War College's strategic studies institute -- and the top expert on Iraq there -- said: "I don't think that you can kill the insurgency"... "The idea there are x number of insurgents, and that when they're all dead we can get out is wrong. The insurgency has shown an ability to regenerate itself because there are people willing to fill the ranks of those who are killed"... "Most Iraqis consider us occupiers, not liberators."

  General Odom [also] said: "This is far graver than Vietnam. There wasn't as much at stake strategically, though in both cases we mindlessly went ahead with the war that was not constructive for US aims. But now we're in a region far more volatile, and we're in much worse shape with our allies."... "I've never seen [tensions] so bad between the office of the secretary of defence and the military. There's a significant majority believing this is a disaster." [5]

  Just as important are the opinions of those whose loved ones are serving in Iraq, like Martha Jo McCarthy, whose husband is on National Guard duty there. She says:

  "Everyone supports the troops, and I know they're doing a phenomenal job over there, not only fighting but building schools and digging wells. But supporting the troops has to mean something more than putting yellow-ribbon magnets on your car and praying they come home safely."

  "I read the casualty Web site every day and ask myself, 'Do I feel safer here?' No. I don't think we can win this war through arrogance. Arrogance is different from strength. Strength requires wisdom, and I think we need to change from arrogance to solid strength." [6]

  ...

  --Carrie, Joan, Lee, Marika, Noah, Peter, and Wes
     The MoveOn.org Team
     September 22nd, 2004

  Footnotes:

  (See our website for links to these articles)

  [1] New York Times: U.S. Intelligence Shows Pessimism on Iraq's Future
  September 16th, 2004

  [2] Washington Post editorial: Mr. Bush and Iraq
  September 18th, 2004

  [3] Washington Post: Three GOP Senators Urge Refocusing of Iraq Policy
  September 19th, 2004

  [4] 'FOX News Sunday', September 19th, 2004, transcript

  [5] The Guardian (UK): Far graver than Vietnam (opinion piece by
  Sidney Blumenthal, Washington Bureau Chief of Salon.com)
  September 16th, 2004

  [6] Washington Post: Quiet Calls for Change (column by David Broder)
  September 16th, 2004

  by AlanF on Wed Sep 22, 2004 at 12:44:06 PM PDT

  •  And here are their links:

    http://www.moveon.org/tellthetruth/?id=3784-2135949-xvUT2Dk2NOVcrRbbDTxwRQ

    by AlanF on Wed Sep 22, 2004 at 12:45:39 PM PDT